Federal Judge Issues Emergency Stay On Trump Immigrant Ban
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- A federal judge in Brooklyn issued an emergency stay on President Trump's executive order banning immigrants from 7 majority-Muslim countries.
The American Civil Liberties Union filed a petition on behalf of 2 Iraqi men detained at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York.
Customs and Border Patrol detained and denied entry to Hameed Khalid Darweesh and Sameer Abdulkhaleq Alshawi. Both had valid visas to enter the United States.
The ruling applies to Darweesh and Alshawi's petition and other detainees in transit but is only temporary.
"This ruling preserves the status quo and ensures that people who have been granted permission to be in this country are not illegally removed off U.S. soil," said Lee Gelernt, deputy director of the ACLU's Immigrants' Rights Project who argued the case.
The 90-day ban applies to travelers from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Somalia and Libya and includes American residents holding green cards. The move sparked protests at JFK, SFO and airports across the country. Many feared the list could get longer.
On Saturday dozens of immigrants were removed from planes en route to the U.S., and travelers were detained upon arrival, as well.
"Clearly the judge understood the possibility for irreparable harm to hundreds of immigrants and lawful visitors to this country," said ACLU Executive Director Anthony Romero. "Our courts today worked as they should as bulwarks against government abuse or unconstitutional policies and orders. On week one, Donald Trump suffered his first loss in court."
On Monday, the National Council on American Islamic Relations will file a suit on behalf of 20 individuals.
